Following
are some of the terms that you will encounter using the Internet.

First a note: Read the inclusion
topic if you don't read anything else. Remember that badwidth (you can look
it up under terms below) costs someone money. In this case
we are talking about the List Owner who has to pay to store all your precious
notes in the archives. So don't put the entire content of the note you are responding
to in your reply. Maybe just a few words so we know what the topic was (if it
isn't apparent from the "subject"). And maybe the person's name "Jane wrote
> about beardie tantrums " then our reply. Some of the other thing here - especially
in the first section - are just for fun. But remember, if the others on the
list haven't read this they may not have a clue to what your Acronym
means. I think most the smiles below are self explanatory.
The final sections on Terms may be helpful if you are new
to the WWW. Back
to B-BOP

List, USENET and E-mail
Techniques and Expressions

Inclusion
- Most netters view an inclusion as a promise that comment on it will immediately
follow. The preferred, conversational style looks like this,

> relevant excerpt 1 response
to excerpt , > relevant excerpt 2 response to excerpt , > relevant
excerpt 3 response to excerpt. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE
THE ENTIRE MESSAGE IN YOUR RESPONSE UNLESS THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE WAS VERY
SHORT!

Though `>' remains the standard inclusion leader,
`|' is occasionally used for extended quotations where original variations
in indentation are being retained (one mailer even combines these and uses
`|>'). One also sees different styles of quoting a number of authors in
the same message: one (deprecated because it loses information) uses a leader
of `> ' for everyone, another (the most common) is `> > > > ', `> > > ',
etc. (or `>>>> ', `>>>', etc., depending on line length and nesting depth)
reflecting the original order of messages, and yet another is to use a different
citation leader for each author, say `> ', `: ', `| ', `} ' (preserving
nesting so that the inclusion order of messages is still apparent, or tagging
the inclusions with authors' names). Yet another style is to use each poster's
initials (or login name) as a citation leader for that poster.

Occasionally one sees a `# ' leader used for quotations
from authoritative sources such as standards documents; the intended allusion
is to the root prompt (the special Unix command prompt issued when one is
running as the privileged super-user).

List Owner - List servers
are not free. The List owner pays for space on a server, and for use of
various services to mail and receive, archive, etc. The List Owner has
registered the list name on the internet and is in fact the true owner
of the list. Ultimately, the list owner has control and final say as to
how the list operates. This is a service to you and for you and should
be appreciated highly. I can say this as I am not the list owner, and only
volunteer space for a page for members of the list to provide links to
other members and helpful suggestions. So, like you, I am just a person
who benefits from the services provided by the List Owner. Don't spoil
it, live with the rules. And when asked, respond with your ideas to ways
the list can be improved. Please Remember, the list owner can remove for
any reason any person (generally those who do not comply with the rules).
This is to benefit others on the list.

Netiquette: The etiquette on the Internet.

Netizen: citizens of the Internet or other network who
are expected to have high standards of (civic) responsibility and participation.

Posting: Sending a single message to a communications
system such as a newsgroup or list..

RFC (Request For Comments):- The result and the process
for creating a standard on the Internet. New standards are proposed and
published as a Request For Comments. The Internet Engineering Task Force
is a consensus-building body that facilitates discussion leading to a new
standard being established. The reference number/name for the standard
retains the acronym RFC. You may often see these published in discussion
groups.

Spam (or Spamming): The inappropriate use of a mailing
list, Newsgroup (USENET) or other networked communications facility to
broadcast the same message to a large number of people who didn't ask for
it. You can guess its origin - as a waste of resources.

Sysop (System Operator): The person(s) responsible for the physical operations
of a computer system or network resource. see also systems administrator.

System's administrator: Responsible for management of the system. A System
Administrator decides how often backups and maintenance should be performed
and directs the SYSOP the to performs those tasks.

General Terms

Anonymous FTP: See also FTP. You can generally log on to FTP sites with
user name as Anonymous, it is good practice to use a password which
is your email address.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): This is the
standard for the code numbers used by computers to represent all the upper
and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, punctuation, etc. There are 128
standard ASCII codes each of which can be represented by a 7 digit binary
number: 0000000 through 1111111.

Backbone: The main international telecommunications networks that carry
Internet traffic among other national, regional, and local networks.

Bandwidth: The amount of data that can travel in a given time, usually
one second, across a network or a connection to a network such as a modem.

Baud: (see also Modem) The baud rate of a modem is the number of bits it
can send or receive per second (for example a 14,400 bit-per-second modem).

BINHEX: One software method for converting files from binary to hexadecimal
so that they can be sent across the Internet via e-mail. See also UUENCODE.
Most modern email programs no longer require this sort of conversion use
MIME.

Bit: The smallest unit of computerized data.

Bps: Bits Per Second.

Browser: Software that allows a user to navigate the World Wide Web by
clicking with a mouse on underlined text and graphical objects similar
to those found in the Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems.

Byte: A set of Bits that represent a single character.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) -- A set of rules that describe how a Web
Server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine,
and how the other piece of software (the “CGI program”) talks to the web
server. Any piece of software can be a CGI program if it handles input
and output according to the CGI standard. A CGI program is a program that
takes data from a web server and does something with it, like putting a
web counter on your web page t, or turning the data into a database query.
CGI programs are usually located in your provider's “cgi-bin” directory
(in a URL), but not always. Best to check with your provider who often
provides a how to description. Some provides require your referring
web page is marked as a shtml (rather than a html or htm extension), the
s for server side action.

Client: A personal computer attached to any network, including the Internet.
Also, personal-computer software that gives access to, and enables use
of; the Internet, either by modem connection or by connection to a local
area network and related hardware.

Cookie “Cookie” on the Internet refers to a piece of information sent by
a Web Server to a Web Browser. Many browsers now have an option to approve
cookies before accepting as these are ways of obtaining information from
your system. Mostly harmless - ways to store specific information for the
next time you visit the site.

Cyberspace: A popular term encompassing all computer networks, including
the Internet on line services, and private networks

Domain Name: An Internet address, commonly in the generic form company.com
Six types of domain names are currently used in the United States: .com
for businesses, .edu for educational institutions, .gov for government
agencies, mil for the militia; net for networks, and org for organizations.

Download: Bringing data from the Internet into a personal computer

EDI: Electronic data interchange. It allows companies to place orders,
bid on projects, and make payments over the Internet or private networks.

Electronic Commerce: Conducting sales or other business transactions over
the Internet or private networks.

E-mail: Electronic mail. A message sent from one person to one or more
other persons over the Internet or a private network.

E-mail Address: An electronic location for receiving and sending e-mail.
E-mail addresses are used to identify and contact users. They take the
form username@company.com

FAQ: Frequently asked questions. A list of common questions about a particular
subject such as a newsgroup or a Web site.

Finger An Internet software tool for locating people on other Internet
sites. Some sites do not allow incoming Finger requests.

Firewall: Computer hardware and software that prevents Internet users from
accessing part or all of a private computer network that is attached to
the Internet.

Flame: An angry e-mail message or newsgroup posting.

FTP: File transfer protocol. A software protocol that allows people to
copy or move files from a remote computer called an FTP site -to their
own computers over the Internet.

Gateway: Hardware or software set-up that translates between two dissimilar
protocols. Often your providers term to accessing the internet areas and
web space

Gopher: Gopher is a Client and Server style program which has been mostly
replaced by Hypertext,(World Wide Web). There are still thousands of Gopher
Servers on the Internet and thus you should not forget to search these.
See also Veronica.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The coding language used to create Hypertext
documents for use on the World Wide Web. This is really a simple programming
language. So simple that your Windows (or other) text editor such as notepad
can be used to make web pages. Generally the majority of web page authors
use a more sophisticated editor which helps to make the tasks easier as
you don't have to remember the program language.

HTTP: Hypertext transfer protocol. A communications protocol that allows
people to navigate among documents or pages linked by hypertext and to
download pages from the World Wide Web.

Hypertext: A software format that lets users embed into documents the links
to other documents, It also allows multiple documents to be represented
by one page.

Internet: A global network of computer networks that allows people to send
e-mail, participate in discussions, and access information.

ISP: Internet service provider A company that sells access to the Internet
to businesses and individuals. Also called an Internet access provider.

Intranet: A private network within a company or organization that may allow
users to connect to the Internet but limits access from the Internet.

IP Address: Internet protocol address. This identifies a particular computer
on the Internet.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat): A multi-user live chat facility. IRC servers
around the world are linked to each other. Anyone can create a channel
and anything that anyone types in a given channel is seen by all others
in the channel. Private channels are sometimes created for multi-person
conference calls.

ISDN: Integrated services digital network. A high-speed communications
system that allows people to connect to the Internet and to send and receive
data in digital form over telephone lines using a device called a terminal
adapter like modems, ISDN does not require computer data to he converted
into analog voice signals. ISDN can transfer data at speeds of up to 128
kilobits per second.

JAVA: A software language that allows people to build interactive Web sites.

Link: A hypertext code that allows people to move from one document to
another by clicking on the link with a mouse.

Lurk: The activities of a discussion group such as a newsgroup, chat room,
or mailing list before posting messages.

Mailing List: Similar to newsgroups (see below), mailing lists allow people
to discuss common interests by posting messages, which are received by
everyone in the group. Unlike newsgroups, people must subscribe to a mailing
list to post and receive messages. Also called a listserv.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions): The standard for attaching
non-text files (pictures, sound files, etc.) to standard Internet mail
messages. Not all mail programs have this capacity, especially some used
in third world countries. Most modern ail programs easily handle MIME.
An email program is said to be MIME Compliant if it can both send and receive
files using the MIME standard.

Modem: A device that allows a computer to connect to the Internet over
phone lines.

Network: A group of computers linked by a common communications protocol.

Newsgroup: One of more than 10,000 discussion groups on the Internet where
people with similar interests can post messages. Also called Usenet groups.
See also mailing list.

On Line: The generic term for the Internet and on line services.

On Line Services: Services such as America Online, CompuServe, the Microsoft
Network, and Prodigy that provide members Internet access, e-mail, discussion
areas, and information.

POP: Point of Presence and Post Office Protocol such as a city or location
where a network can be connected to. The way e-mail software mail from
a mail server. You obtain a SLIP, PPP, or shell account with POP server
account with it which your e-mail software uses to get your mail.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol): A protocol or standard that allows a computer
to use a regular telephone line and a modem to make TCP/IP connections
to a the Internet.

Search sites: World Wide Web sites that allow users to search for specific
content by key words or phrases. Popular search sites some are search engines,
others are Web directories include Alt Vista, Excite, Lycos, WebCrawler,
and Yahoo.

Server: A computer that people dial into by modem or over a network to
gain access to the Internet. A server is also used to host e-mail, Web,
FTP, and chat sites.

Secured Server: A server using software that protects the privacy' of electronic
transactions conducted over the Internet.

shtml: see CGI

SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol): A standard for using a regular telephone
line (a serial line) and a modem to connect a computer as a real Internet
site. SLIP is gradually being replaced by PPP.

SQL (Structured Query Language): A programming language for sending queries
to databases - all SQL-capable databases support a common subset of SQL.

Sysop (System Operator): The person(s) responsible for the physical operations
of a computer system or network resource. see also systems administrator.

System's administrator: Responsible for management of the system. A System
Administrator decides how often backups and maintenance should be performed
and directs the SYSOP the to performs those tasks.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): A system of protocols
that defines the Internet which results in Internet use with all functions.
Often a dial up to a gateway provider (some of those large systems
with their own chat and newsgroups - sorry I don't want to mention names)
is not a true TCP/IP connection, thus you may have limited access to the
internet. Thus WWW browsing may not support animation, sound and some of
the more interesting resources of the internet.

UNIX: A computer operating system designed to be used by many people at
the same time with TCP/IP built-in. Still the most common operating system
for servers on the Internet but their are many competitors.

URL: Uniform resource locator. The location or address of Web page; an
example could be http://www.company.corn

Usenet: See Newsgroup.

UUENCODE (Unix to Unix Encoding): One software method for converting files
from Binary to ASCII (text) so that they can be sent across the Internet
via e-mail. See also Binhex. Most modern email programs support but no
longer require this sort of conversion.

Veronica (Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives)
-- Developed at the University of Nevada, Veronica is a database of the
names of menu items on gopher servers which can be searched from most major
gopher menus.

WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers) -- A software package that indexes
and makes searchable huge quantities of information. WAIS results are ranked
(scored) according to how relevant the hits are, and subsequent searches
can refine the search process.

World Wide Web: The matrix of graphical information stored on servers connected
to the Internet.